And just like that, our chapters have reached double digits! :)
While she freshened up, redid her braid, and changed into a new set of clothes, Lauren already had an inkling on which Aesir was waiting for her outside. And she turned out to be correct.
The Norse god of thunder stood near the bonfire pile, standing beside Chiron, who was in his wheelchair. Their amused eyes were glued to Mjolnir.
The hammer was surrounded by a circle of campers, mostly from the Ares cabin. They took turns trying to lift the hammer. Lauren regarded the scene as she strode out of the Artemis cabin with Jill by her side.
A burly camper with dark skin and large arms gave up on the task with a loud huff, sweat trailing down his neck. And then Clarisse La Rue walked up to accept the challenge. Lauren narrowed her eyes. She had heard of the heroic things the daughter of Ares had done, especially during the first Titan War. But she did not have the rest of the qualities needed in order to lift Mjolnir.
From afar, Lauren might have seen the hammer adjust in its position slightly when Clarisse tugged on it, but it did no more than that.
Lauren closed the distance, eyes on Chiron.
"I thought you were running a camp, not an amusement park," she chided.
The centaur returned her look with a glint in his eye before clearing his throat and waving the campers off.
"Come now, off with you!" he yelled in order to be heard over the cheering of the Ares kids. "Perhaps in your training, you'll gain the merits and not the strength in order to lift Mjolnir."
The crowd dispersed, mumbling amongst themselves, some cradling their arms, perhaps having pulled a muscle. Lauren followed them with her eyes, making sure everyone left. There were no signs of Agent Barton or Tony Stark. She hoped that they had left.
Frowning at Thor, she said, "Pick that up, will you?"
"Wouldn't you like to try, Lady Hunter?" He smirked lightly. "I have heard of great things about the Hunters of Artemis. Perhaps you have the makings of lifting Mjolnir."
"It is not right for a daughter of Greece to wield a weapon of the Norse," she retorted. "And are you so eager to have that stolen away from you? Pick it up."
Thor complied, not even having to strain for the hammer to lift off the ground. Lauren gave his cloaked look a onceover.
"Why have you come?" she inquired slowly, trying to read the change of expression on the god's face.
He pursed his lips. "The All-Father requests an audience with you."
Lauren's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. She turned her head and met Jill's eyes, but she was just as lost as she was. "For what reason?"
"He grows more anxious every passing hour about the disturbances in both Jotunheim and the Pit. He thinks that perhaps an alliance is brewing… It is not coincidence."
"No, it's not," Lauren agreed.
"And is Heimdall correct about your Oracle stating not one, but two prophecies yesterday?"
"He is."
"Then we have no time to waste. We leave for Asgard immediately." Whirling around, he strode away—to where, Lauren didn't know.
She only released a humorless laugh at his statement, sharing a look with an anxious Jill. "I am not going with you to Asgard, Thor," she said.
Thor faced her again, a questioning look on his face. "Why not?"
"The same reason I would not even try and wield your hammer," Lauren replied. "I am a Greek. I will not willingly step into the hall of the Norse gods. It isn't right."
"My father would not mind. It is he himself who requested you be let onto the Rainbow Bridge—"
"It is not his choice to make," she snapped. "I do not want to."
"He will be unhappy about your refusal, Lady Hunter," Thor warned. "He has told me that it is imperative that he speak with you about the given prophecies. He worries that…"
At the god's hesitation, Lauren narrowed her eyes. "That what?"
He met her gaze uncertainly and started adjusting and readjusting his grip on Mjolnir; Lauren didn't know what to think, until…
"That perhaps one of your minor goddesses might be willing to join forces with a leader of Jotunheim, in order to achieve their same goal: turning Midgard into a world coated in ice." He paused, letting the possibility sink in. "To be more specific, this Khione you have been constantly speak of."
Lauren looked around at the light sheets of snow falling around them. It was no longer very violent; there had been no venti spotted. Lauren had no idea when or why everything had become so… calm.
"Even if Khione has found a way to enter Jotunheim, why hasn't she attacked yet? The Frost Giants of Jotunheim have prowess that is far above both the Roman and Greek camps' abilities… Why hasn't she attacked?" And thinking more on it, she added, "Why hasn't she sent so much as a warning? A scouting legion?"
"The new leader of Jotunheim may have a better scheme up his sleeve," said Thor. "I am yet to know absolutely everything about the situation, Lady Hunter. But I implore that you come speak with the All-Father. The urgency is above reproach."
"I understand that," Lauren snapped. "Just… give me a moment."
She turned away from the god of thunder and walked a few steps away, pulling Jill along with her.
Speaking to Jill, now, she murmured, "What do you think?" When the younger girl only stared at her, she smiled softly. "You are my second in command, Jill. You will have to learn to speak for yourself someday. Do you think I should go or not?"
Jill was quiet for a long moment, her eyebrows scrunching together in thought.
"Olympus has been closed off. They never do that. The threat must be huge…" she thought out loud, before raising her head to meet Lauren's eyes. "You should go, find out more about what's happening with the Frost Giants. Khione couldn't have possibly gotten there on her own. If she was let onto Norse soil, both she and the Frost Giants would have wanted it to happen."
Satisfied, Lauren nodded. "Very well."
She turned them both around and returned to stand in front of Thor. She thought over exactly what she was about to agree to—once, then twice—before reaching her own conclusion.
"I will go with you to Asgard."
"Excellent," said Thor, smiling slightly. "You will not need to bring anything—your weapons, if it makes you feel better—though the All-Father promised not to keep you for long."
"I'd prefer to be back in less than three hours."
Thor was quiet for a moment before he nodded. "Now, if there is nothing else…?"
"Oh, yes. Hang on a minute, Thor," Chiron suddenly cut in. He had been so quiet that Lauren almost forgot he was just beside the god of thunder. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to speak to Lauren before you leave." At the deity's hesitant look, the centaur added softly, "I won't take long. Just a few reminders."
Thor bobbed his head once, and Chiron wheeled around, gesturing for Lauren to follow him.
She pulled Jill aside, saying, "Tell the others why I am gone. I'll see you at noon," before trailing after the centaur.
Chiron stopped a few ways away from the Zeus and Hera cabins, probably because there were smaller chances of anyone listening in there.
He adjusted his wheelchair to face Lauren; his grim expression unnerved her. "I hope you aren't planning on saying anything foolish to Odin, Lauren," he said sternly. "Or to anyone on Asgard, for that matter."
Lauren scoffed. "I cannot promise anything."
"Lauren, I implore you," said Chiron. "If the outcome of fulfilling these two prophecies will result in a war—not just any war, but a war among two civilizations… we will need all the allies we can get." He looked at her with gentle eyes. "Explain to them our revelations about the prophecies, about Orion, Khione, the Frost Giants—I don't care if they already know. Tell them about your dreams, as well as Ethan's. Everything. Do you understand?"
With an impatient nod, she said, "Is that all you have to say?"
"Is Ethan safe?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Why do you ask?"
"I'd prefer that he were here, where I can watch him," he replied lowly. "He still does not know how to protect himself properly. If a monster were to attack… if Khione were to attack…"
"The Avengers are with him," she said.
Chiron shook his head vigorously. "But not just that—I want to be monitoring his dreams. I know for a fact that they aren't being given to him by pure coincidence. Either Apollo or Morpheus is sending those dreams. Quite frankly, I want to know if they are a warning of some sort… Perhaps they are like Rachel's ability to prophesize, constantly changing with the weave of time…"
Lauren stopped listening there. She'd heard enough. She was convinced. Whirling around, she snapped her fingers to catch Thor's attention and asked him, "Do you have any means of contacting Director Fury?"
Behind her, Chiron stopped rambling.
Thor frowned. "Yes, he gave me some sort of contraption yesterday before I left… Why?"
"Tell him the boy Ethan needs to be brought here as soon as possible. I don't care if he sends along an escort. Just make sure that he is brought here by sunset today, or I will send someone to get him. Understand?"
He nodded. "I will attempt to use his contraption now. Will you meet me at the top of Half-Blood Hill?"
Lauren jerked her head in an affirmative. She strode past Chiron, who was still brooding, to the Artemis cabin. None of the Hunters were there, which she was thankful for because she didn't want to have to answer their questions.
She retrieved her bow and quiver of arrows and walked back out.
Ignoring the glances that campers were throwing at her, she reached the top of Half-Blood Hill and hung back, pacing near Thalia's Pine. She was far enough away that the dragon Peleus wasn't intimidated by her presence.
She warily regarded the Golden Fleece draped across the tree's large roots, inwardly praying to the gods that it wouldn't fluctuate while she was gone. The heavy sheet of snow covering it wasn't reassuring, until Peleus blew a thin gust of fire onto it.
A while later, Thor arrived, Mjolnir at hand. "We must be outside the borders of the camp in order for the Bifrost to reach us," he said.
Scowling, but not questioning him, Lauren stepped away from Peleus, ensuring that Thalia's Pine was indeed behind her. Thor did the same so that he was beside her, and then raised his hammer.
There came a soft whistling sound. The cloudless sky seemed to open up like hangar doors—except thirty times faster. A bright beam of light shot down and Lauren had to close her eyes.
Warmth enveloped her, cancelling out the effects of the winter. Yet at that same moment, a strong wave of vertigo hit, as if she was looking down from Mount Everest itself. Lauren clutched her stomach.
As quickly as it had come, Lauren noticed the bright light dissipate to a soft glow. The heat was still there, but gentler this time, not quite burning through her bones.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened her eyes, and stared in awe at the magnificent sight before her.
The golden structures looming overhead were unlike anything Lauren had ever seen—not even in Mount Olympus. Soft pink clouds hovered above. They were sure to turn darker, but no less beautiful as the day progressed and night took over.
She composed herself, taking another moment to admire the scene before looking at Thor. "No time to waste," she said, gesturing for him to lead the way.
He looked surprised, most probably because she had regained her self-control so quickly (the after-effects of the vertigo didn't help); otherwise, he started walking.
The soft hum beneath her feet had not gone unnoticed by Lauren. She didn't need to glance down, only forward, to see the aurora of colors that seeped through the thick glass bridge. Little tendrils of blue, green, violet—any color she could think of, and perhaps even the ones she couldn't. Just staring at it sent a jolt through her.
Looking around at the radiance of it all, the lines from the second prophecy sprung to mind: In nine long nights, the bridge will be crossed. The golden capital, golden it may be…
"The bridge," she whispered to herself, and then raised her head, scanning the horizon—golden towers as far as the eye could see. "The golden capital…"
It dawned on her, then. The thoughts swirling in her head nearly left her struggling to walk straight.
Halfway down the Bifrost, they were met with a dark-skinned man with gold eyes. He was dressed in gleaming armor and held a large sword in front of him with two hands. His gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if he was looking into her very soul. Lauren guessed that this was Heimdall.
"This is the lieutenant of Artemis?" he asked Thor, to which the god of thunder only nodded.
"Is my father ready?" said Thor.
"He is in the throne room as we speak."
Thor nodded again, and then continued on his way. Lauren made to follow him but halted when she heard Heimdall say, "Please do not use your weapons in my city."
Lauren was reminded of Terminus, and how the Norse in front of her was so very different from him—mostly, in terms of having arms and a lower half. She hid her smile well and replied with a simple nod before trailing after Thor.
The Asgardians didn't exactly give her a warm welcome. Their eyes would often stray to her bow, undoubtedly wondering just who she was. Lauren guessed that Odin didn't really update them with whatever happened in the Nine Realms.
She did her best to ignore the looks given to her by the women, and seethed when men gave second glances.
The whole of Mount Olympus was still larger than Asgard's palace, but Lauren was impressed with the architecture. It was difficult to layout the entirety of the inside of the palace, so Lauren stopped trying.
She let Thor lead her down vast halls with pillars and columns, winding staircases, and cavernous rooms, until finally they stopped at a wide hallway, in front of what looked to be the most heavily-guarded doors.
As soon as the sentries saw Thor, they stepped aside, while two stepped up to push the doors open. Thor and Lauren walked through the entrance, and they were met with a room as wide as the Big House.
About three dozen guards waited in front, lined up, acting as a pathway leading to the throne, where the All-Father sat.
He looked more like Chiron instead of Zeus, with the neat hair reaching the nape of his neck, and the scraggy beard—except he had white hair, rougher skin, a golden eyepatch, and older eyes. His armor greatly resembled Thor's (which Lauren had caught a glimpse of beneath the cloak); he held a staff with a pointed end, and had his other arm tucked into his abdomen, as if it were broken. And though he did not look very intimidating, Lauren knew better.
A golden-haired woman stood beside him. Lauren didn't know enough Scandinavian folktales to know who she was.
Thor led the way until they were in front of the short flight of stairs that led up to the throne. Immediately, he got onto one knee and bowed his head.
Lauren glanced about them, narrowing her eyes at the thin crowd of people gathered behind the guards. Perhaps they were deities, witnesses… scribes? She would much rather have spoken with the All-Father alone, but she was in no place to argue.
She heard someone clear her throat, and turned her head to find the golden-haired woman looking down at her with kind, but expectant eyes.
Biting the inside of her cheek, Lauren knelt down beside Thor, but did not bow her head.
Odin didn't look at her. "Rise, my son," he said. Thor straightened up, while Lauren kept her chin up. Her calculating eyes stayed on the All-Father. "I trust there was no trouble with bringing our… visitor here?"
"None, father," Thor replied, his booming voice echoing all across the room.
Odin nodded once, before looking to Lauren. "What is your name?"
"Lauren Brooks, All-Father." She had no plans of ever calling anyone Your Majesty, except for Artemis.
"I am grateful that you accepted my request; however, I doubted that you would come."
"As did I," Lauren said in a loud enough voice.
She kept in mind that she was kneeling before a man very similar to Zeus, and therefore had to speak with respect. But, as the same went for speaking with Zeus, she didn't enjoy it.
There was a pregnant silence, one she did not wish to fill, before he spoke again. "At early evening yesterday, our gatekeeper, Heimdall, informed me of a prophecy being spoken. A Greek prophecy, by the Oracle of Delphi. Yet not only one, but two prophecies." He paused. "As you should know, the place in which these prophecies were spoken is protected by a magical barrier. It made that even Heimdall, the one who sees all, could not see and hear the happenings. And so I ask you to recite these prophecies, and speak it well."
The way he spoke just like Zeus irritated her. "May I stand?"
"You may."
She did, hastily; took a deep breath and clasped her hands behind her before springing into recitation.
Halfway through, Lauren's façade of playing it cool broke away, replaced by her original anxiety and ineptness.
When she was finished, she regarded Odin's blank expression—the complete opposite of Thor's. "You need only worry about the latter part of it, of course," she said, letting a hint of contempt drip into her words.
The All-Father showed no signs of noticing it, and only asked for the second prophecy. Lauren, feeling rather more reluctant in letting him hear the prophecy about her Quest, shook her head slightly. "We can speak of it later. This first one is more urgent. We think it may be pertaining to—"
"One prophecy," Odin snapped, "is never more important than another. I will hear the second one before we speak of anything else."
Lauren bristled at his interruption. Her hands clenched into fists behind her. "I may leave here, All-Father, if I so prefer, for you were the one who requested I cross over—"
"I requested!" Odin shouted. "And you, of a lesser civilization and lesser being, will stay and inform me of anything I want, unless ordered not to—by me!"
Until then, her head had been bowed, eyes staring at the floor because she had heard Thor murmur for her to do so. But hearing his clear denunciation, calling her lesser, reminded her that he held nothing over her.
He was not her god.
Lauren raised her head slowly, and met his blazing eye with her own. "Until you revoke your accusation about the Greeks, I will say nothing more."
She noticed his jaw clench. For a long while, there was nothing but deadly silence between them. Several moments in, she thought that he would blast her to oblivion.
But then, with an irritated sigh, he looked away and waved his hand. Lauren caught Thor's surprised expression, then. She guessed that Odin backing down from a staring contest was perhaps a sign of remorse—a prideful sign (which Lauren expected from a man), but a sign nonetheless.
Scowling, she began reciting the prophecy for her Quest.